# Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Vagharshapat, Yerevan > Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, in the town of Vagharshapat about 20 km west of Yerevan. The cathedral and the Mother See grounds are **free** and open every day. Only the treasury museum charges: **2,000 AMD** for foreign visitors, Tuesday–Sunday 10:30–17:30. Allow 1.5 hours on site, half a day with the trip from Yerevan. Web page: https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan/etchmiadzin-cathedral - City: [Yerevan](https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan), Armenia - YesGo score: 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h 30 min - Entry: Free; treasury 2,000 AMD - Opening hours: Cathedral daily, from the morning service until evening; museums Tuesday–Sunday 10:30–17:30, closed Mondays - With kids: Fine with kids - Cathedral and grounds: Free - Treasury (Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum): 2,000 AMD for foreign visitors - Ruben Sevak Museum: 500 AMD - Free museum entry: Preschool children, pensioners, military, ICOM members - Museum hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:30–17:30 - Museums closed: Mondays — not stated as such, but missing from the official schedule - Sunday liturgy: 11:00; times change on feast days - Museum guided tour: Book by phone: +374 10 517 253 - Bus from Yerevan: No. 203 from Kilikia bus station, ≈ 35 min, 250–300 AMD in cash - Taxi: Yandex Go or GG, 30–40 min - Address: Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Vagharshapat 1101 - Coordinates: 40.16186, 44.29100 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **301–303** — traditional founding dates, by St Gregory the Illuminator (source: English Wikipedia; JAMnews; Russian Wikipedia (303)) - **2000** — UNESCO World Heritage listing, together with the churches of Vagharshapat and Zvartnots (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; JAMnews) - **29 Sep 2024** — re-consecrated and reopened after a restoration of more than a decade (source: Vatican News; JAMnews; English Wikipedia) - **“Descent of the Only-Begotten”** — the meaning of the name Etchmiadzin (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **483–484** — rebuilt by Vahan Mamikonian — the core of today’s building (source: English Wikipedia; Russian Wikipedia (5th-century rebuild)) - **1653–1658** — the bell tower at the west entrance was built (source: English Wikipedia; Russian Wikipedia (17th-century belfry)) - **Holy Lance** — the Geghard spear in a gilded silver reliquary of 1687, kept in the treasury (source: Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Manoogian Museum page; English Wikipedia; Metropolitan Museum of Art catalogue) - **1698** — date of the reliquary holding a fragment of Noah’s Ark (source: Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Manoogian Museum page) - **Catholicos** — the seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **1982** — the treasury museum opened, funded by Alex and Marie Manoogian (source: Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Treasury House page) ## Etchmiadzin Cathedral opening hours and tickets The cathedral and the walled Mother See grounds are **free** and open every day, from the early morning service into the evening. The Mother See does not publish visiting hours for the cathedral itself; unofficially, weekday services start at 7:30 and the Sunday liturgy at 11:00. The paid part is the **treasury** — the Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum: **2,000 AMD** for foreign visitors, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30–17:30. The small Ruben Sevak Museum is a separate 500 AMD ticket. Preschool children and pensioners go in free. Pay the museum fee in drams. Visa and Mastercard work widely in Yerevan, but carry cash for the bus, candles and small cafés in Vagharshapat. > **Avoid Monday — and Sunday mornings** The museums keep no Monday hours, so the treasury is shut. On Sundays the 11:00 liturgy fills the cathedral and on busy weekends people follow the service from the doorway. For an unhurried look at the frescoes, come on a weekday morning. ## How to get to Etchmiadzin from Yerevan 1. From Republic Square, take a Yandex Go or GG taxi to Kilikia Central Bus Station on Admiral Isakov Avenue — about 10 minutes. 2. Board **bus No. 203** to Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin). It runs often and takes about 35 minutes. Some daytime runs reportedly also stop near France Square in the centre (unofficial). 3. Pay the driver in cash, ideally exact change: 250–300 AMD — sources differ. 4. Want Zvartnots too? Ask the driver to drop you at the ruins — they are on the way. 5. Ride to the last stop: the Mother See gate is a few metres away. 6. Return the same way, or take a taxi straight back — 30–40 minutes. ## Is Etchmiadzin worth visiting? Yes — it is the easiest half-day trip from Yerevan, and the one that explains Armenia best. You see one of the oldest cathedrals in the world, the working heart of the Armenian Church and, in the treasury, relics you will not find anywhere else. The cathedral itself is modest in size, so do not expect a European-style giant: the interest is in its age, the restored frescoes and the life of the place. If you only care about scenery, [Khor Virap](https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan/khor-virap) with Mount Ararat behind it, or [Garni](https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan/garni-temple) and [Geghard](https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan/geghard-monastery), may suit you better. Have a full day? Do Etchmiadzin in the morning and one of those in the afternoon. > **Dress code** Cover shoulders and knees — men and women alike. Men take off hats inside. A light scarf is handy for women. It is a working church: during services stay at the back, keep quiet and never use flash. ## The treasury: the Holy Lance and Noah’s Ark The treasury is the reason to budget an extra 40 minutes. Its star is the **Holy Lance** (Geghard), by tradition the spear that pierced Christ, kept in a gilded silver reliquary made in 1687. Next to it are a fragment of Noah’s Ark in a reliquary dated 1698, the Cross of Ashot the Iron, reliquaries of the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew, illuminated manuscripts, vestments and carpets. Many of these pieces moved here in 2018 from the old museum inside the cathedral when major works began. For a guided visit with museum staff, phone ahead on the number in the table above. ## What to see at Etchmiadzin - **The cathedral interior** — frescoes uncovered and restored, and parts of the ancient foundations now on view. - **The bell tower** at the west entrance — carved red tuff, finished in 1658. - **The treasury** — the Holy Lance, the Noah’s Ark relic and manuscripts. - **The courtyard** — khachkars (cross-stones) and the Catholicos’ residence from outside. - **St Gayane Church** — 7th century, a few minutes’ walk south. - **St Hripsime Church** — 7th century, by the road in from Yerevan. - **Zvartnots** — ruins of a round 7th-century cathedral on the way back, separate paid entry. ## A short history Tradition says **St Gregory the Illuminator** built the first church here in 301–303, soon after Armenia adopted Christianity as its state religion, on the spot where he saw Christ descend and strike the ground with a golden hammer — hence the name, “Descent of the Only-Begotten”. In 483–484 **Vahan Mamikonian** rebuilt the damaged cathedral from its foundations, and that core still stands. The dome and the three-tier bell tower came in the 17th century, giving the church its red-tuff silhouette. UNESCO listed it in 2000 with the churches of Vagharshapat and Zvartnots. The latest restoration began with surveys in 2012, closed the cathedral in 2018 and ended on 29 September 2024, when Catholicos Karekin II re-consecrated it. ## Etchmiadzin and Zvartnots: a half-day route Zvartnots sits right by the airport road, so the logical order is Zvartnots first, then the cathedral and treasury, then a short walk to St Gayane and a hop to St Hripsime. Allow 45–60 minutes at Zvartnots, 1.5 hours at the Mother See and 30 minutes for the two churches. With travel, that is four to five hours. A guided tour does exactly this loop without bus changes and adds the stories behind the relics. On your own, a taxi between the sites is cheap and quick. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] It is not Monday, so the treasury is open - [ ] Shoulders and knees covered, scarf in the bag - [ ] Cash in drams for the bus and candles - [ ] Half a day blocked out, Zvartnots included - [ ] Aware of the 11:00 Sunday liturgy - [ ] Water and a hat in summer — Zvartnots has no shade ## Etchmiadzin vs Khor Virap, Garni and Geghard | | Etchmiadzin | Khor Virap | Garni | Geghard | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Armenia’s mother cathedral, 4th century | Monastery facing Mount Ararat | Classical pagan temple | Monastery partly cut into the rock | | Direction from Yerevan | West, ≈ 20 km | South, near the Turkish border | East | East, beyond Garni | | Entry | Free; treasury paid | Free | Paid | Free | | Pair with | Zvartnots | Ararat views | Geghard | Garni | | Best for | Relics and church history | The Ararat photo | Colonnade above a gorge | Rock-cut halls | Etchmiadzin is the simplest trip: closest, with a direct bus. Garni and Geghard go together in half a day; Khor Virap is for Ararat. ## Churches and monasteries around Yerevan Every place of worship in and around Yerevan rated by YesGo. - [Geghard Monastery](https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan/geghard-monastery) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Etchmiadzin Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan/etchmiadzin-cathedral) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free; treasury 2,000 AMD - [Khor Virap](https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan/khor-virap) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Free ## Etchmiadzin and Yerevan in one day The cathedral and treasury in the morning, the hilltop memorial on the way back into town, then medieval manuscripts and the Cascade at sunset. 1. [Etchmiadzin Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan/etchmiadzin-cathedral) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free; treasury 2,000 AMD 2. [Armenian Genocide Memorial (Tsitsernakaberd)](https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan/tsitsernakaberd) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free; English guide 7,000 AMD per group 3. [Matenadaran](https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan/matenadaran) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 2,000 AMD, under 6 free 4. [Yerevan Cascade](https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan/yerevan-cascade) — YesGo score 58/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free ## Good to know “Etchmiadzin” means the cathedral, the Mother See compound around it and, informally, the town of Vagharshapat. You may also see it spelled Echmiadzin or Ejmiatsin. St Gayane and St Hripsime are separate churches in the same town; Zvartnots is a ruin between Yerevan and Vagharshapat. ## Tips - Arrive for the treasury’s 10:30 opening and you will have the relics almost to yourself. - Carry drams in cash: the bus does not take cards, though Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere in Yerevan. - St Gayane is a two-minute walk from the Mother See — do not skip it. - In summer go early: the courtyards and Zvartnots get very hot by midday. - Back in Yerevan, the [Matenadaran](https://yesgo.io/armenia/yerevan/matenadaran) manuscripts make a perfect follow-up to the treasury. - On a feast day the Holy Lance may be brought into the cathedral itself — check the Mother See’s announcements. ## Questions ### Is Etchmiadzin Cathedral free to visit? Yes, the cathedral and grounds are free. The treasury museum costs 2,000 AMD for foreign visitors and the Ruben Sevak Museum 500 AMD. ### What are Etchmiadzin Cathedral opening hours? The cathedral is open daily from the morning service until evening. The museums open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30–17:30, and are closed on Mondays. ### How do I get from Yerevan to Etchmiadzin? Bus No. 203 from Kilikia Central Bus Station takes about 35 minutes and costs 250–300 AMD in cash. A Yandex Go or GG taxi takes 30–40 minutes. ### How far is Etchmiadzin from Yerevan? About 20 km west of central Yerevan, in the town of Vagharshapat. ### How long do you need at Etchmiadzin? About 1.5 hours for the cathedral and treasury, half a day with Zvartnots, St Gayane, St Hripsime and the journey. ### Is Etchmiadzin worth visiting? Yes: it is the easiest half-day trip from Yerevan and the spiritual centre of Armenia, with relics like the Holy Lance in the treasury. ### Is Etchmiadzin Cathedral open after the restoration? Yes. It was re-consecrated and reopened on 29 September 2024; photos showing scaffolding are out of date. ### What should I wear to Etchmiadzin Cathedral? Cover shoulders and knees; men remove hats inside. Women may want a light scarf. ### Where is the Holy Lance kept? In the Etchmiadzin treasury, the Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum, in a gilded silver reliquary. ### Can I combine Etchmiadzin with Zvartnots? Yes — Zvartnots is on the same road. Ask the No. 203 driver to stop there, or take a short taxi ride between the two. ## How we checked Museum fees, hours and the tour booking number come from the official Mother See website. Monday is not explicitly named as a closing day — it is simply absent from the schedule — so that row is marked “verifying”. The Mother See publishes no visiting hours for the cathedral itself; service times are unofficial. Historical dates are checked against English and Russian Wikipedia; where the Russian article gives only the century, we use the English article’s years. Sources disagree on the cathedral’s dimensions (27 m vs 34 m high), so we leave them out. The bus fare also differs between sources (250 vs 300 AMD); we show both. ## Sources - Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin (armenianchurch.org): Museums at the Mother See — hours and fees, 30.10.2026 - Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House and Manoogian Museum pages — exhibits and the 2018 transfer - Vatican News, 4 October 2024 — re-consecration on 29 September 2024 - JAMnews: Armenia’s ancient Etchmiadzin Cathedral reopens after six-year restoration - English and Russian Wikipedia: Etchmiadzin Cathedral; Wikidata Q1294648 - Transport for Armenia (t-armenia.com): Yerevan to Etchmiadzin, bus 203 - Unusual Nomad: self-guided Zvartnots and Etchmiadzin day trip - Lonely Planet: Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin — service times - The Currency Shop: currency and cards in Armenia --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.